Crown molding hanger aid

ABSTRACT

A crown molding hanger aid is used to hold one end of crown molding during the installation process by a single craftsman. The unique tool formed of flat metal and coated with paint, powder coating or galvanized or of a plastic or polymer material, has four distinct portions; the pointed hook portion, the rear leg portion, the crown molding support portion and the front leg portion that are integrally formed as a single unit simplifying the manufacturing process. The pointed hook portion has been designed as a means to easily penetrate the conventional drywall surfaces in an area that is covered by the crown molding after the installation has been completed. The tool can be reused many times with no damage incurred during the installation process.

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/794,386 filed Apr. 24, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to tools used in the carpenter trade by craftsmen and more particularly to a device that supports lengths of crown molding enabling a single worker to nail and fit the crown molding to the wall.

BACKGROUND ART

The method of installing crown molding normally requires a team of two workers. One worker would do the fitting and nailing on the left end of the crown molding strip and the second worker supports the opposite end of the crown molding strip. Most ceilings are 8 feet or higher and crown molding is placed against the ceiling and nailed to the wall with the workers using ladders to install the crown molding. One or both of the workers work their way along the length of the crown molding and nail and fit it into its final position.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a novel crown molding hanger aid that only requires one person for the installation process.

It is another object of the crown molding hanger aid to provide a tool that can be used an unlimited number of times.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel crown molding hanger aid that cuts the cost of installation, by using only one worker for installation and generally pays for itself in its first hour of use.

Another object of the invention is to have the device penetrate the conventional drywall surfaces in an area that is covered by the crown molding after the installation has been completed.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a crown molding hanger aid that is safe to use and does not mark or scratch the surfaces of the walls or the molding during the installation.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel crown molding hanger aid that saves on the cost of labor.

It is also an object of the crown molding hanger aid to reduce the overall time of installation.

It is another object of the invention to provide the craftsmen with an inexpensive device that is easy to use, easy to transport and does not require special equipment in order to use the device.

There is no crown molding hanger aid on the market like the inventor's and a search of the existing patents did not disclose anything similar to the crown molding hanger aid. The patents found on the search will be discussed below.

The Bragg et al, U.S. Pat. No. 1,185,587 discloses a hook or hanger for supporting items such as pictures, ornaments, etc. It has a spur of downwardly projecting member that is driven into the wall.

The Le Roy, U.S. Pat. No. 2,686,960 is directed to a holding and positioning tool for installing building eave gutters. A roof nail or another type of nail can be partially driven in place for the holding tools to be hooked thereon by means of a slot 6 opening in from one edge of arm 7 near its top end. False bottom 15 supports the bottom of the gutter and by turning screw 10 with crank 13, the gutter can be raised to its proper position at which time the gutter is nailed in position against the roof 3. The positioning tools 4 allow a single person to install the gutter.

The Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,455 discloses an installation jug that is secured to a wall to hold a panel while it is being installed by a single person.

The Haug, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,627 discloses a wall hanger hook for supporting items such as pictures, mirrors etc. Of note is the structure of the prong 13 formed at the top end of the hook that is driven into and left in the wall.

The Sundstron et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,108 discloses a hook for hanging pictures or the like on walls. It has a fixing part that consists of a preferably extremely thin plate adapted to be driven into and left in the wall with its plate line oriented substantially horizontal.

The Ernst US patent application publication 0178545 was filed Mar. 21, 2002. As per the US Patent Offices new rules, it was published eighteen months later. There is nothing to indicate that a patent was granted on this hanger assembly. The hanger assembly seems to be primarily intended for hanging items like pictures and other like items. Even if a patent is ultimately granted, it is not believed that any of the clams of such a patent would be infringed by the structure of this device for installing crown molding.

The Kinnaman et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,512 is directed to a hanging guide that can be used for supporting siding panels. It provides a method to which an individual working by himself can support a side panel in a desired position with respect to a support structure. This device can be used for the purpose of installation of siding only and could not be used for the purpose of supporting crown molding during the installation process. The Locklear U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,520 describes a tool for facilitating accurate placement and installation of crown molding at an intersection of a ceiling and wall, the crown molding having a wall-engaging portion and a ceiling-engaging portion. The tool includes first and second extension arms, each extension arm having respective inner and outer major surfaces and respective proximal and distal ends. This tool is designed to locate the position of the crown molding, but does not hold it in position during the installation process.

None of the foregoing prior art teaches or suggests the particular unique features of the crown molding hanger aid and thus clarifies the need for further improvements in the devices that can simplify the installation process of crown molding.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The crown molding hanger aid is used to hold one end of crown molding during the installation process by a single craftsman. The pointed tip has been designed as a means to easily penetrate the conventional drywall surfaces in an area that is covered by the crown molding after the installation has been completed.

The tool is formed of flat metal and coated with paint, powder coating, galvanized, or of a plastic or polymer material, and has three distinct portions: a rear leg portion having a bottom end and a top end that is curved outwardly forming a pointed hook portion that is placed adjacent to the wall surface. The curved hook portion has a front end and a rear end with rear end of the curved hook portion connected to the top end of the rear leg. The pointed hook portion has a left lateral edge and a right lateral edge and these lateral edges taper downwardly and inwardly to substantially form a point. This point has been designed as a means to easily penetrate the conventional drywall surfaces. The rear leg portion has an aperture for hanging the device on a hook or nail. The central portion is the substantially U-shaped crown molding support portion that will hold a variety of styles and shapes of crown molding. The front leg portion has a top end and a bottom end with the distal top end curved outwardly for handling conveyance. The pointed tip portion, the rear leg portion, the crown molding support portion, the front leg portion are integrally formed as a single unit simplifying the manufacturing process.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a rear perspective view of the crown molding hanger aid.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the ceiling and two walls indicating the length and the intended location of the crown molding installation.

FIG. 3 depicts a side elevation of the crown molding hanger aid and the ceiling adjacent its top end, showing the X1 position where the hook would be hammered into the wall.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the ceiling and two walls illustrating the crown molding held in position at one end by the crown molding hanger aid.

FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the hook portion of the crown molding hanger aid is removed from the sidewall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The crown molding hanger aid 10 will now be described by referring to FIG. 1. The crown molding hanger aid 10 has three principal portions. It has a crown molding support portion 12 having a front leg 14 and a rear leg 16. Rear leg 16 has a bottom end 18 and a top end 20. Front leg 14 has a top end 22 and a bottom end 24. An aperture 26 is formed in rear leg 16 for hanging the crown molding hanger aid 10 on a hook or nail. Curved hook portion 28 has a pointed tip 30 and a rear end 32. Curved hook portion 28 also has a lateral left edge 34 and a lateral right edge 36 tapered downwardly toward each other to form the pointed tip 30. The cut-away portion of the front leg 14 illustrates the metal 38 which the crown molding hanger aid is constructed of and the exterior coating 39 that may be paint, powder coating or galvanize coatings.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the ceiling 40 and two walls 42 and 44 indicating the length L1 and the intended location of the crown molding installation. H1 designated the distance from the ceiling 40 and X1 the point of insertion that the device should be mounted to for easily removal.

FIG. 3 depicts a side elevation of the crown molding hanger aid 10 and the ceiling 40 adjacent its top being the rear end 32 of the pointed tip 30, showing the X1 position where the hook would be hammered into the wall

FIG. 4 depicts the crown molding fitted and secured to sidewall 42 up to the point where the crown molding hanger aid 10 will be removed.

FIG. 5 depicts the crown molding hanger aid 10 in position before the workman pulls forward on it, and with a hammer 60 hits lightly upward causing the curved tip portion 28 to be removed from side wall 42 and be available for the next molding strip to be fitted and nailed in place.

Although this crown molding hanger aid 10 has been described in connection with specific forms and embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and described, certain features may be used independently of other features, and the number and configuration of various components described above may be altered, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended Claims.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

1. A crown molding hanging aid comprising: a substantially U-shaped crown molding support portion; said substantially U-shaped crown molding support portion having a rear leg having a top end and a bottom end; said substantially U-shaped crown molding support portion having a front leg having a top end and a bottom end; and a substantially rearwardly and downwardly extending curved hook portion having a front end and a rear end said front end of said curved hook portion being connected to said top end of said rear leg of said crown molding support portion.
 2. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 1 wherein said curved hook portion has a left lateral edge and a right lateral edge; said lateral edges taper downward and inwardly to substantially a point.
 3. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 1 further comprising a curved hook portion having a front end and a rear end.
 4. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 1 wherein said hook portion, said crown molding support portion and said concave tip portion are integrally formed as a single unit.
 5. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 4 wherein said single unit is made of metal material.
 6. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 5 wherein said single unit is powder coated to prevent scratching of the crown molding.
 7. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 4 wherein said single unit is made of plastic material.
 8. A crown molding hanger aid as recited in claim 3 wherein said concave tip portion has a aperture for hanging said concave tip portion. 